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Advice for a beginner
#5

I agree with Kevin. Start with the Menassa CDs, then the couple of books I suggested. On the caps, yes, replace all but the mica ones. If you do have to test one, one end has to be unhooked from the circuit and you'll need a capacitance tester, available online for not much money. In a few places, you'll replace the large electrolytics with new electrolytics, and those -are- polarity-sensitive. If you put one in backwards it will explode. The film caps you'll use to replace the paper ones are not polarity-sensitive.

Read up on the safety issues before beginning. A mistake can be lethal. The old series (AC/DC sets without a power transformer) are especially hazardous, as its easy to have 110V running through the entire chassis and knob posts. An isolation transformer is a great thing to have if you can find or make one.

I've reworked 35 or so table radios, all AC/DC sets so far. Most of them only required a recap and testing resistors, or changing a couple of resistors, a good cleaning and oiling the tuner variable cap and an alignment. But watch out for flaking wire insulation. Suspect wiring must be replaced or sleeved with spaghetti insulation.

Join a local radio club - it's a good source of information and help, and for such things as tube testers (nice to have your own). The Radio History Society in Bowie, MD is a great resource for diagrams and tubes.

Welcome, and don't hesitate to ask questions. I'm still learning and asking questions.

Clarence


Messages In This Thread
Advice for a beginner - by winkydink - 01-23-2012, 09:51 AM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by imacdaddy757 - 01-25-2012, 07:42 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by dan mauro - 01-26-2012, 11:24 AM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by 37silverstreak - 01-27-2012, 01:21 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by imacdaddy757 - 01-28-2012, 06:33 AM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by dan mauro - 01-30-2012, 12:20 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by winkydink - 02-01-2012, 09:22 AM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by Dave - 02-01-2012, 07:53 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by winkydink - 02-02-2012, 03:15 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by imacdaddy757 - 02-02-2012, 07:49 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by winkydink - 02-02-2012, 09:17 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by winkydink - 02-03-2012, 10:50 AM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by imacdaddy757 - 02-06-2012, 05:10 AM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by Bob Andersen - 02-06-2012, 05:25 PM
Re: Advice for a beginner - by codefox1 - 02-06-2012, 05:37 PM



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